Venerable Ignacia del Espíritu Santo
Filipino woman who founded the country's first women's religious community
- Rank
- Venerable
- Kind
- Religious, Founder
- Life
- 1663 – 1748
- Era
- 18th century
- Countries
- Philippines
Life story
Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was born in Binondo, Manila, in the Captaincy General of the Philippines. She was born in 1663; little is recorded about her childhood.
The group of women who gathered around her, the Beatas de la Virgen Maria, was founded in 1684 and is regarded as the first Filipino religious congregation for women. Fr Pablo Clain (Paul Klein), a Jesuit from Bohemia, directed her through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.
The group later became the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), a congregation that still exists today.
She died in Manila in 1748, aged about 85. Pope Benedict XVI recognized her heroic virtues on 6 July 2007, making her Venerable. The title was promulgated on 1 February 2008 at the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo. According to the sources consulted, her cause has not yet reached beatification; the next step would be a miracle attributed to her intercession.
Works and witness
- Gathered the Beatas de la Virgen Maria in 1684
- Guided by Fr Pablo Clain through the Spiritual Exercises
- Her group grew into the Religious of the Virgin Mary
- Heroic virtues recognized on 6 July 2007
Saints from the same country
References
- Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), history page (theignacianmarians.wordpress.com/rvm)
- AsiaNews, "One step closer to the beatification of the founder of the Religious of the Virgin Mary"
- Decree on heroic virtues, Benedict XVI, 6 July 2007
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.